Vetyeka deserves no sympathy

Former two-time world boxing champion Gerry Peñalosa said the other day newly-crowned WBA featherweight champion Nonito Donaire, Jr. is under no obligation to offer dethroned titlist Simpiwe Vetyeka a rematch.

After wresting the crown from the South African via a fifth round unanimous technical decision in Macau last weekend, Donaire promised Vetyeka a rematch to settle unfinished business. It was a gesture of sportsmanship as the bout ended abruptly with Donaire unable to continue because of a deep cut over his left eye inflicted by a headbutt.

Of the four rounds that transpired, Donaire lost only one – the second – on the three judges’ scorecards. In the third stanza, he nearly dropped Vetyeka who appeared to prevent a fall by holding on to the top rope after taking a blistering shot. Puerto Rican referee Luis Pabon could’ve called a knockdown because under the rules, a fighter who avoids a fall by propping himself up with the help of the ropes should be given a mandatory eight-count. Vetyeka was clearly staggered and backtracked to move away from danger.

In the fourth, Vetyeka landed some solid blows that seemed to hurt Donaire or at least bother him. The South African stepped up his attack, sensing Donaire was queasy, and tried to pin him into a corner. That was Vetyeka’s undoing. As Vetyeka came charging in, Donaire timed a left counter hook perfectly and dropped the defending champion. Vetyeka got up and received a reprieve when ringside physician Dr. Redentor Viernes was summoned to examine Donaire’s cut. The interruption allowed Vetyeka to clear the cobwebs in his head and he survived the round.

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With four rounds over, Donaire knew it would go to the scorecards and there was no way Vetyeka was ahead on points. To make the technical decision official, Pabon signalled to sound the bell for the fifth round then called off the fight. Pabon told the judges to score the abbreviated fifth round even if not a single punch was thrown by either fighter. In this case, the judges gave each fighter 10 points under the 10-point must system. That’s the reason why ring announcer Lupe Contreras announced the three judges’ scores as 49-46.

My understanding of the rules is after four rounds are finished, the outcome of a fight is determined by whoever is leading on points to result in a technical decision. It was weird to start the fifth round then stop it after one second with the judges scoring the aborted canto despite no punch thrown or even a moment of action. In my opinion, it wasn’t necessary for Pabon to start the fifth round in order to create a situation for a technical decision since four rounds were over anyway.

Pabon actually did Donaire a favor by stopping it after four rounds because if the fight was waved off inside four rounds, Vetyeka would’ve retained the title on a no-contest or technical draw.

When Donaire went back to his corner at the end of the first round with blood gushing out of his wound, Pabon asked if he could continue. Donaire knew if the fight was halted, he wouldn’t go home a champion. So he boldly soldiered on until the end of the fourth, realizing a technical decision, not a draw, would be declared. And to make sure he would win the decision, Donaire scored a scintillating knockdown to seal it.

Vetyeka had a few moments of brilliance. He showed a sharp left jab and a dangerous right straight. But the South African was definitely not in Donaire’s class. His defense was porous, his footwork inconsequential. What was evident was Vetyeka fought dirty, reminiscent of Sandy Saddler and Love Allotey who were disgraceful in their battles with Flash Elorde. Vetyeka butted Donaire repeatedly and used his elbows, too. Pabon never deducted a point from the South African despite the damage he inflicted on Donaire with his butting.

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Under equal circumstances, Vetyeka would’ve been knocked out by Donaire. If Donaire could stagger Vetyeka and drop him despite a handicap with blood obstructing his vision, the Filipino Flash would’ve flattened him for sure if only the cut wasn’t inflicted. It would’ve been a mismatch, all things being equal, which is why Vetyeka doesn’t deserve a rematch. Besides, why give a rematch to a dirty fighter who showed no sportsmanship?

What impressed Peñalosa about Donaire was his timing. Peñalosa said Donaire timed his delivery with precision. He also cited Donaire’s power and smarts. Penalosa said while Pabon appeared to tolerate Vetyeka’s dirty tactics, at least he allowed the fight to finish four rounds so as to pave the way for a technical decision. It would’ve been a travesty for Vetyeka to retain the crown on a technical draw.

Peñalosa said the “other” WBA featherweight champion Nicholas Walters, who destroyed Vic Darchinyan in the undercard, could be a future opponent for Donaire. “Walters is strong but I think Donaire will beat him only he’s more of a risk than Vetyeka,” said Peñalosa. The WBA recognizes two featherweight champions, one in the “super” category and another in the “regular” category. The governing body exacts sanction fees for fights involving both types of champions, meaning double the income.